Tube cleaners protest against victimisation

On 8 January, about 40 people turned up to protest outside the headquarters in Greenwich of the cleaning company ISS. The protestors were there to support rail union RMT tube cleaners' reps Clara Osagiede and Mary Boakye.

Chris Newby

Mary has been sacked on trumped-up charges of sleeping on the job. Clara is the secretary of the RMT's tube cleaners' group and faces a gross misconduct charge despite being on recognised union duties when she was accused of failing to return to her workplace. It is no co-incidence that Clara and Mary are both very effective organisers. Clara in particular played a leading part in the successful campaign involving strike action, by 700 RMT cleaners to win a commitment from cleaning subcontractors ISS, ITS, ICS and GBM to pay the London 'living wage' of at least £7.45 an hour.

Taking part in the protest was George Campbell, RMT cleaners' rep at Morden depot who was sacked by ISS. George had been working at the Morden depot for almost eleven years and was the RMT rep when ISS took over the cleaning contract.

The day after ISS took over the contract about one and a half years ago, George was suspended on the allegation of being "rude to security". Yet after an investigation it was found that there was no basis to this allegation. George was suspended for seven months. Following a tribunal George was re-instated, only to be sacked by ISS six months later. George is appealing against this sacking.